Sea turtle nesting season is May 1 to Oct. 31, and the 45th Space Wing, mission partners, residents and visitors, are reminded to observe and help protect wildlife by extinguishing all nonessential light between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. during nesting season. This helps minimize injury or death to sea turtles protected by the Endangered Species Act. (Courtesy photo/Angy Chambers)

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Sea turtle nesting season is May 1 to Oct. 31, and the 45th Space Wing, mission partners, residents and visitors, are reminded to observe and help protect wildlife by extinguishing all nonessential light between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. during nesting season. This helps minimize injury or death to sea turtles protected by the Endangered Species Act. (Courtesy photo/Angy Chambers)

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Lights out for sea turtles

Published May 2, 2016
By 45th Civil Engineer Squadron
Installation Management Flight

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Sea turtle nesting season is May 1 to Oct. 31, and the 45th Space Wing, mission partners, residents and visitors, are reminded to observe and help protect wildlife by extinguishing all nonessential light between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. during nesting season. This helps minimize injury or death to sea turtles protected by the Endangered Species Act.

The beaches at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, are prime nesting habitat for loggerhead, green and leatherback sea turtles. Artificial lighting negatively affects nocturnal sea turtle behavior of both adults and hatchlings.

Disorientation occurs when sea turtles crawl toward inland light sources rather than the ocean. Exterior lighting that is not mission-, safety-, or security-essential will be extinguished during this time frame.

For further information regarding exterior lighting at 45 SW installations, refer to Space Wing Instruction (SWI) 45 SWI 32-7001, Exterior Lighting Management.

Questions regarding the requirements of the SWI or concerns relating to sea turtles and lighting should be directed to 45th Space Wing Civil Engineer Installation Management Flight at (321) 853-6822/6858.

(Submission is an annual notice)